Synthesis of steroids



United States Patent 3,463,792 SYNTHESIS OF STEROIDS Seymour D. Levine, North Brunswick, N.J., assignor to E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Original application Oct. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 492,286, now Patent No. 3,367,965, dated Feb. 6, 1968. Divided and this application Sept. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 664,902

Int. Cl. C07c 171/06; A61k 17/06 U.S. Cl. 260-348 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 6a, 7ot-oxido-17m-substituted-A A norandros-tene-2- one-l7fl-ols, wherein the 17-substituent is vinyl, ethynyl, halo substituted vinyl, trifluoromethyl substituted vinyl, halo substituted ethynyl or trifluorornethyl substituted ethynyl, are prepared by treating a 17a-substituted-5B- cyano-A-norandrostane-17,8-ol-2-one with a base to yield the corresponding A -androstene derivative, treating the latter with a halogenating agent to yield the corresponding 7vt-ha10 derivative, then with a teritiary base to yield the corresponding 6-dehydro derivative, and finally with a peracid to give the 6a,7a-oxido derivative. The 611,701- oxido compounds are useful as intermediates, which upon treatment with a hydrohalic acid yield the corresponding 6,6-halo-7whydroxy derivative, which yield upon heating in an acid solution the corresponding 6-halo-6-dehydro derivatives, compounds that possess anti-androgenic activi-ty.

This application is a division of application, Ser. No. 492,286, filed Oct 1, 1965, and now Patent No. 3,367,- 965, granted Feb. 6, 1968.

This invention relates to new steroidal compounds and, more particularly, to new steroids of the A-norandrostane series, new intermediates useful in the preparation of the same, and processess for preparing the same.

The new final products of this invention are of the Formula I:

wherein X is chloro or bromo, R is hydroxy or acyloxy; and R is vinyl, ethynyl, halo substituted vinyl, trifluoromethyl substituted vinyl, halo substituted ethynyl and trifiuoromethyl substituted ethynyl. Among the suitable acyloxys may be mentioned the acyloxy radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than twelve carbon atoms, as exemplified by the lower alkanaic acids (e.g., acetic, propionic, butyric, hexanoic and enanthic acid), the lower alkenoic acids, the cycloalkane carboxylic acids, the cycloalkene carboxylic acids, the monocyclic aromatic carboxylic acids (e.g., benzoic acid), and the monocyclic aryl (lower alkanoic) acids (e.g. 'phenacetic and fl-phenylpropionic acid). Among the suitable halogen substituted vinyls may be mentioned perhalovinyls, such as trifiuorovinyl, trichlorovinyl, 1,2-difluoro- 2-chlorovinyl and 1,2-difiuoro-2-bromo-vinyl; the dihalovinyls, such as 1,2-difluorovinyl, 2,2-difluorovinyl, lchloro-2-fluorovinyl, l-bromo-Z-fiuorovinyl, and 1,2-

dichlorovinyl; and the monohalovinyls, such as l-fluorovinyl, Z-fluorovinyl, l-chlorovinyl, 2-chlorovinyl, and 1- bromovinyl. Among the suitable halogen substituted ethynyls may be mentioned fluoroethynyl, chlorethynyl and bromoethynyl.

The final products of this invention are prepared by interacting a compound of the Formula II:

"ice

wherein R is as hereinbefore defined, with a base such as lithium acetylide-ethylenediamine complex, sodium hydride in dimethylformamide or sodium hydroxide in ethyleneglycol. The compounds of Formula II can be prepared as described in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 440,311 filed Mar. 16, 1965, now Patent No. 3,330,851. The process results in the preparation of new intermediates of this invention of the Formula III:

rd CU wherein R is as hereinbefore defined. To prepare the l7fl-esters, compounds of Formula III are acylated in the usual manner by treatment with an acyl chloride or acid anhydride of the desired acid in the presence of perchloric acid, preferably one of the acids mentioned hereinbefore.

The compounds of Formula III (or a 17-ester thereof) are then treated with 2,3 dichloro 5,6 dicyanobenzoquinone and hydrogen chloride, or 2,3-dichloroF5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone and hydrogen bromide, to yield new intermediates of the Formula IV:

wherein R and R are as hereinbefore defined, and X is bromo or preferably chloro. Compounds of Formula IV may be esterified, if a free 17B-hydroxy compound is initially formed, in the usual manner to yield the 17,8- ester derivative.

The compounds of Formula IV are then heated with a tertiary base, such as collidine, to yield compounds of wherein R and R' are as hereinbefore defined.

Compounds of the Formula V are then treated with a peracid, such as m-chloroperbenzoic acid, to yield compounds of the Formula VI:

wherein R and R are as hereinbefore defined, which on treatment with an equivalent amount of a hydrohalic acid (i.e., hydrochloric and hydrobromi'c acid) at room temperature, yield compounds of the Formula VII:

LL In --Oll VII wherein R, R and X are as hereinbefore defined, which upon heating in acid solution to a temperature of about 40 C. to about 50 0., yield the final products (Compounds I) of this invention.

Compounds of Formula VI can also be converted to compounds of Formula I in one step by treating with an excess of a hydrohalic acid at an elevated temperature.

If a compound wherein R is ethynyl, halo substituted ethynyl or trifluoromethyl substituted ethynyl is used as the initial reactant and a vinyl derivative is desired, it may be formed by an alternative method by reducing the ethynyl compound of Formula III by treatment with hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst.

The compounds of the instant invention having the Formulae I, III, IV and V are physiologically active steroids which possess anti-androgenic activity, i.e., they inhibit the action of androgens, and they may be used in the treatment of such conditions as hyperandrogenic acne. The compounds may be formulated for such administration, the concentration and/or dosage being based on the activity of the particular compound and the requirements of the patient.

The following examples illustrate the invention (all temperatures being in centigrade):

EXAMPLE 1 17a-ethyny1-A -A-norandrostene-17fl-ol-2-one A mixture of 200 mg. of 55- cyano- 17a-ethyny1-A- norandrostane-l7,8-01-2-one and 270 mg. of lithium acetylide-ethylenediamine complex in ml. of benzene and 10 ml. of tetrahydrofuran is warmed at 50 for 16 hr. under helium with stirring. The reaction mixture is treated with 10 ml. of Water and refluxed for 1 hr., then diluted with additional water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts are washed with 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Plate chromatography of the residue using neutral alumina (Act. V) as the adsorbent and chloroform as the developing solvent gives a major band which is detectable by ultraviolet. Elution with ethyl acetate gives a residue which is crystallized from ethyl acetateisopropyl ether to afford about 57 mg. of 17u-ethynyl-A A-norandrostene-17/3-ol-2-one, M.P. about 196198. The analytical sample is prepared by recrystallization from ethyl acetate-isopropyl ether, M.P. about 201.5202.5; [a] 124 (EtOH); )t 233 mp. (13,900);

425%, 9.09 (s., l8-Me), 8.82 (3., 19 Me), 7.44 8., 17a- CECH) and 4.27 4., 3-H) Analysis.-Calcd for C H O (298.41): C, 80.49; H, 8.78. Found: C, 80.50; H, 8.88.

The dehydrocyanation can also be carried out by room temperature treatment of 5 B-cyano-17a-ethynyl-A-norandrostane-17fi ol-2-one with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide; or with sodium hydroxide in 17% aqueous ethylene glycol solution at reflux temperature.

EXAMPLE 2 l7 wethynyl-A -A-norandrostene-2-one-175-01 acetate A solution of 0.0033 ml. of perchloric acid in 0.3 ml. of acetic anhydride is added to 500 mg. of 17a-ethynyl- A -A-norandrostene-2-one-1713-01 in 10 m1. of acetic anhydride. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then poured into ice-water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts are washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give 17a-e'thynyl-A -A-norandrostane- 2-one-17 8-ol acetate.

Similarly, by substituting any other acyl chloride or acid anhydride for the acetic anhydride in the procedure of Example 3, the corresponding 17-ester is formed. Thus, propionic anhydride and benzoyl chloride yield the propionate and benzoate, respectively.

EXAMPLE 3 17a-trifluoropropynyl-A -A-norandrostene-Z-one-1718-01 Example Reaetant (R is) Product (R is) 4 Chloroethyuyl Chloroethynyl. 5 Vinyl Vinyl.

fi-Chlorovinyl B-Chlorovinyl. 7 a,}3-Di0h101OVinylafiDiehlorovinyl. 8 a,B-Difiuorovinyl a,;3-Difluorovinyl.

EXAMPLE 9 7a-ch10ro-1 7a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostenel7fi-ol-2-one A mixture of 490 mg. of 17a-ethyny1-A -A-norandrostene 17B o1 2 one and 750 mg. of 2,3-dich1oro-5,6- dicyanobenzoquinone in 25 ml. of dioxane is treated with hydrogen chloride (g.) for 10 minutes, stoppered and left at room temperature for 67 hr. The hydroquinone is removed by filtration, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. Plate chromatography of the residue using neutral alumina (Act. V) as the absorbent and chloroform as the developing solvent gives three bands detectable by ultraviolet. The least polar band is eluted with ethyl acetate and gives a residue which is crystallized from ethyl acetate-isopropyl ether to afford about 140 mg. of 7a chloro 17cc ethynyl A A norandrostene 17 (3- ol-2-one, M.P. about 166-167 (elf). The analytical sample is prepared by recrystallization from ethyl acetateisopropyl ether, M.P. about 172-173(eff.), X 2.97, 3.07, 5.97 and 6.13;; )t 233 m (14,500);

5 3 3 9.08 5., JS-Me), 8.80 5., 19-Me), 7.41 (s., 170.- gz gln 5.62 (m., WH-6 e.p- 'ifi-H), and

Analysis.--Calcd for C I-I O Cl (332.86): C, 72.19; H, 7.57. Found: C, 72.16; H, 7.54.

EXAMPLE 10 7a-chloro-17a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostene-2-one-17,8-01 acetate A solution of 0.0033 ml. of perchloric acid in 0.3 ml. of acetic anhydride is added to 500 mg. of 7oc-ChlOI'O-17ocethynyl-M-A-norandrostene-Z-one-175-01 in 10 ml. of acetic anhydride. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then poured into ice-water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts are washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution,

8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give 7u-ch1oro-l7ot-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostene-2-one-17/3-0l acetate.

Similarly, by substituting any other acyl chloride or acid anhydride for the acetic anhydride in the procedure of Example 10, the corresponding 17-ester is formed. Thus, propionic anhydride and benzoyl chloride yield the propionate and benzoate, respectively.

EXAMPLE 11 7a-chloro-17a-trifiuoropropynyl-A -A-norandrostene-2- one- 17 5-01 Example Reactant (R is) Product (R is) Chloroethynyl... Chloroethynyl. Vin Vinyl. fl-Chlorovinyl. uChloruviuyl, 15 a,fl-Dichlorovinyl afi'DlChlOIOVh'IYI. 16 a,B-Difluoroviny1 a,B-D1fluorovmyl.

EXAMPLE 17 l7a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene-17B-ol-2-one A mixture of 300 mg. of 7a-chloro-17a-ethynyl-A -A- norandrostene-17B-ol'2-one and 10 ml. of collidine is refluxed for 1 hr., cooled and diluted with chloroform. The chloroform solution is washed with 2 N hydrochloric acid, saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Plate chromatography of the residue using neutral alumina (Act. V) as the adsorbent and chloroform as the developing solvent gives a major band detectable by ultraviolet. Elution with ethyl acetate gives a residue which is crystallized from acetone-hexane to give 17a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene-17/3-ol-2-one, M.P. about 206-208". The analytical sample is prepared by recrystallization from chloroform-isopropyl ether, M.P. about 206-208",

141 (EtOH); X 2.97, 3.05, 5.88, 6.00 and 6.33% )t 278 mu (22.600);

75 3 3 903 (8., 18-Me), 8.88 5., 19-Me), 7.44 (8., 17a- CECH), 4.27 s., 3-H), (d, d,-2 c.p.s., 10.5 c.p.s., 6-H), 5 3. 19 (d, d,-1 c.p.s., 10.5 c.p.s., 7-H) Analysis.-Calcd for 11 0 (296.39): c, 81.04; H, 8.16. Found: C, 81.04; H, 8.14.

EXAMPLE 18 l7a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene-Z-one-17,8-0l acetate A solution of 0.0033 ml. of perchloric acid in 0.3 m1. of acetic anhydride is added to 500 mg. of 17a-ethyny1- A -A-norandrostadiene-Z-one-17,8-01 in 10 ml. of acetic anhydride. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then poured into ice-water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts are washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give l7a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene-2-one-17 -01 acetate.

Similarly, by substituting any other acyl chloride or acid anhydride for the acetic anhydride in the procedure of Example 18, the corresponding 17-ester is formed. Thus, propionic anhydride and benzoyl chloride yield the propionate and benzoate, respectively.

EXAMPLE 19 17ot-trifiuoropropynylA -A-norandrostadiene- 2-one-l 7,8-01

Following the procedure of Example 17, but substituting an equivalent amount of 7a-chloro-l7a-trifluoropropynyl-A -A-norandrostene-17,8-01-2-one for the steroid reactant, 17a-trifluoropropynyl-M -Amorandrostadiene-2 one-17/3-ol is formed.

Similarly, by substituting an equivalent amount of the indicated 7a-chloro-17a-R-A -A-norandrostene 2 one- 17 3-01 for the steroid reactant in the procedure of Example 17, the designated l7a-R-A -A-norandrostadiene-Z- one-17,8-ol is formed:

17ot-vinyl-A -A-norandrostene-17B-ol-2-one A mixture of 300 mg. of 17a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostene-l7B-ol-2-one and mg. of 5% palladium on carbon catalyst in 15 ml. of dioxane is hydrogenated until one mole equivalent of hydrogen is taken up. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated to dryness to give l7tit-vinyl-A -A-norandrostene-17 3-ol-2-one.

EXAMPLE 26 6a,7a,oxido-17ot-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostene-17fl-ol 2-one A mixture of 100 mg. of 17a-ethynyl-A -A-norandro- EXAMPLE 27 6a,7ot-oxido-17a-trifluoropropynyl-A -A-norandrostene- 2-one-17fl-ol Following the procedure of Example 26, but substituting an equivalent amount of 17 a-trifluoropropynyl-A -A- norandrostadiene-17B-ol-2-one for the steroid reactant,

7 606,7OL-OXid0,170t-tI'ifll1OTOpI0pyI1y1-A A norandrostene- 2-one-1718-o1 is formed.

Similarly, by substituting an equivalent amount of the indicated 17a-R'-A -A-norandrostadiene-Z-one-17,8-01 for the steroid reactant in the procedure of Example 26, the designated 6a,7a-oxido-17a-R'-A A-norandrostene-Z-one- 173-01 is formed:

Example Reactant (R is) Product (R is) 28 Chloroethynyl Chloroethynyl. 29 Vin Vinyl.

6B-chloro-17a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostene- 711,17/3-di01-2-O1'16 EXAMPLE 34 6,8-chloro-17a-trifluoropropynyl-A -A-norandrostene- 2-one-7a, 17 p-diol Following the procedure of Example 33, but substituting an equivalent amount of 6a,7ot-oxido-17a-trifluoropropynyl-M-A-norandrostene-17fl-ol-2-one for the steroid reactant, 6,8-chloro-l7a-trifluoropropynyl-A -A-norandrostene-2-one-7a,17B-diol is formed.

Similarly, by substituting an equivalent amount of the indicated 60,7oc oxido-17a-R-A -A-norandrostene-2-one- 175-01 for the steroid reactant in the procedure of Example 33, the designated 6;8-chl0ro-17a-R-A -A-norandrostene-2-one-7a,17B-diol is formed:

Example Reactant (R is) Product (R is) 35 Ohloroethynyl Chloroethynyl. 36 Vin l Vinyl.

,B-Ghlorovinyl. 38 afi-Diehlorovinyl... a,B-Dichlrovinyl. 39 afi-Difiuorovinyl a,B-Difiuorovi1iyl.

EXAMPLE 40 6-chloro-17a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene- 17fl-Ol-2-One Hydrogen chloride is passed into a solution of 300 mg. of 6a,7a-oxido-17a-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostene-1715- ol-2-one in 30 ml. of chloroform for 3 minutes. The reaction mixture is left at room temperature for 2 hrs. and then at 45 for 1 day. The reaction mixture is Washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give 6-chloro-17u-ethynyl A A norandrostadiene-17fi-ol-2-one.

8 EXAMPLE 41 6-chloro-17u-ethynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene- 2-one-17fi-ol acetate A solution of 0.0033 ml. of perchloric acid in 0.3 ml. of acetic anhydride is added to 500 mg. of 6-chlor0-17aethynyl-A -A-norandrostadicne-2-one 17/8 01 in 10 ml. of acetic anhydride. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then poured into ice water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts are washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give 6-chloro-17aethynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene-2-one 17 8-01 acetate.

Similarly, by substituting any other acyl chloride or acid anhydride for the acetic anhydride in the procedure of Example 41, the corresponding 1'7-ester is formed. Thus, propionic anhydride and benzoyl chloride yield the propionate and benzoate respectively.

EMMPLE 42 6-chloro-17u-trifiuoropropynyl-A -A-norandrostadiene-2-one-17fl-ol Example Reactant (R is) Product (R is) 43 Chloroethynyl Chloroethynyl. 44 Vinyl Vinyl.

45 B-DichlorovinyL. fl-Chlorovinyl.

What is claimed is: 1. A compound of the formula wherein R is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, ethynyl, halo substituted vinyl, halo substituted ethynyl and trifluoromethyl substituted ethynyl.

2. The compound of claim 1, wherein R is ethynyl.

3. The compound of claim 1, wherein R is trifluoropropynyl.

4. The compound of claim 1, wherein R is vinyl.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,950,289 8/1960 Weisenborn 260-348 NORMA S. MILESTONE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

